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To mark its foray into the segment, the company has launched a campaign called ‘Back is the new front’, that positions a so called utility product as something you can easily make a style statement with. The campaign is based on the premise that in today’s India, baggage not the emotional kind is becoming a reflection of its owners’ personality.

Created by L Saatchi Saatchi, the campaign features a baffled John Abraham, who can’t seem to figure out why everyone around him is walking backwards. The more he looks around, the more he sees this trend everyone is walking, riding, and even posing for photographs, backwards. Besides moving in reverse gear, they all have another thing in common they’re all wearing a brightly coloured backpack each.

The film ends when Abraham walks into a store, buys himself a Skybags backpack and starts walking backwards too. The creative idea stems from the insight that everybody likes to show off their s Toms Shoes tylish side first.

Says Sudip Ghose, vice president, marketing, “There is a definite gap in the market for stylish backpacks. Most professional bags are either black or boring. Backpacks, today, work like watches or shoes besides being utility products, they reveal a lot about the personality of the user.”

The range is primarily targeted at the urban youth in the 16 to 25 years bracket. While continuing with its ‘tough luggage’ imagery, the brand is trying to offer something cool and stylish for the youth, this time around. Ghose makes it very easy for us to picture a member of his core TG. The protagonist of the Bollywood film Wake Up Sid (that features Ranbir Kapoor as a cool, young brat) embodies the TG perfectly, he says.

Rahul Nangia, chief creative officer, West South, L Saatchi Saatchi, says, “The intent is to make backpacks a style accessory. Which is why, we placed Skybags in a world where everyone puts their backs in front.” The film has been directed by Anupam Mishra.

Besides TV, the campaign comprises print ads and point of sale (POS) material. A Twitter contest (BlankIsTheNewBlank) incentivised by the stylish new range of backpacks itself, is part of the brand’s digital efforts. Another contest, encouraging users to share their ‘reverse selfies’ was also launched.

Gearing up?

Backpacks are gradually becoming ‘wardrobe staple’ for Indian youth, say experts. Backpacks, today, are readily associated with campus culture, college life and start up companies contexts in which, typically, youngsters take center stage.

VIP, known for its hardtops and big size luggage, shifted focus to small, cabin size luggage with its Skybags label somewhere along the way. Now, the company has entered the backpack segment by launching close to 50 ranges under the same Skybags brand.

In India, the backpack and duffel bags segments are growing faster than the hardtops segment, as Indian consumers are increasingly planning shorter, ‘budget trips’ within the country. The backpack category in India is pegged between Rs. 600 to Rs. 2,000 crore and VIP is aiming to gain 10 per cent market share in the first year itself.

International brands like Samsonite and American Tourister are also showing interest in the backpack segment of late. There are several domestic players such as Wildcraft and Duckback that have already fou Toms Shoes nd their respective places in this market. In 2012, Titan’s Fastrack launched a range of patterned bags, in a move to differentiate itself from plain bags.

Ghose argues that Skybags’ range of backpacks is built keeping the Indian consumer in mind. Its product propositions include rain cover, built to last straps and the ability to carry up to 12 kgs of weight.

The range is priced between Rs 1,090 to Rs 2,600.

, founder and CEO, brand comm, a brand consultancy, believes categories like watches, vehicles, clothes and women’s bags have all undergone change and have become products that are used to make a statement. “The backpack Toms Shoes category is no different,” he states, adding, “These coloured b Toms Shoes ags fit well with the taste of the young generation.”

The Indian youth, he says, is an “overt” bunch that likes to show off. He reasons, that companies like VIP are experimenting with design and it’ an experiment the market is in a position to accept.

Sridhar leaves us with a word of caution, though: Brands like these ought to have foresight, as with time, consumers who are on the periphery, will be part of the core TG.

“In this category, the youth is the low hanging fruit, but I am sure young adults will also start using these stylish bags, gradually. However, to expand the market and the product’s reach, brands that are targeting only the youth today, will need to expand their product portfolio such that it suits the tastes of adults as well,” he suggests.

Mostly every home I visit has a bag dilemma of sorts. People just obtain too many unnecessary needless bags. They end up being stored in your limited storage spaces until you move, have a flood or till I pay you a visit and veto the bag collection and rezone the space for something practical and functional. We collect t Toms Shoes hem in every shape, size and colour and name them approximately as lunch bag, paper bags, plastic bags, gift bags, travel bags, Ziploc baggies, shopping bags, etc.

Last week, I received an e mail (or cry for help) from what seemed to be an extremely detailed lady. She has about a zillion bags, give Toms Shoes or take, in a variety of sizes. Sarah reads my column regularly and writes in part:

question is: I have a very tiny space and I like to separate: (1) grocery bags; (2) clear fruit bags; (3) plain (white/grey) bags ” both small and large; (4) extra large plastic bags; and one for (5) miscellaneous. I tried small cardboard (liquor box ” 10 x 8) with compartments in a section of a bottom cupboard ” takes up too much room. Considered five separate potato chip containers ” too difficult to access. Can you help? thanks for your question. Storing so many bags in a small Toms Shoes space is definitely not practical. Although I Toms Shoes am not a fan of the plastic world, there is always the Bag Saver available at most Wal Marts and Canadian Tires.

Three suspected heroin overdose deaths occurred in the Lower Hudson Valley during the last week of January, followed Toms Shoes by the Feb. 2 death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. Fed by cheap, easy access and a growing addiction problem tied to prescription painkiller abuse heroin use has soared in the region. The following comments are in response to our survey and continuing coverage of the issue:

? “This is a huge problem in this area, and it saddens me that it takes the death of a well known actor to bring it to light. . I hope people take this very seriously and start demanding a response from elected officials in the area to put a stop to this.’ Allyson Clokey pasko, via Facebook.

? “No one sets out to be, or wants to be a junkie. It is a living hell. . Those wired for addiction have a brain chemistry and a biological response that cannot and will not be understood by those not affected. They start out using in all different ways usually with Toms Shoes ‘less harmful’ substances and the need progresses. Most often, drug addiction is part of the sy Toms Shoes stem of underlying disorders such as anxiety/depression/bipolar. Of course opiate addicts know that death or jail is ultimately waiting for them. Some get help, others don’t or can’t before it’s too late. Many are in and out of treatment and jail for many years. S Toms Shoes ome continue to function in day jobs and you would never know that they were users. It’s a mixed bag.